Lodoxamide

Registered South African indications:

• Non-infectious allergic conjunctivitis

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Porphyria
• Concomitant use of soft contact lenses
• May impair ability to drive and operate machinery

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: opd

Non-infectious allergic conjunctivitis
- Vernal conjunctivitis
- Giant papillary conjunctivitis
- Allergic-atopic conjunctivitis
Other ocular diseases 
- Where type I immediate hypersensitivity (or mast cells) play a major role in the inflammatory process

• Ophthalmic (opd): 1-2 drops into each eye, 6hrly

Therapy is essentially prophylactic therefore drops should be used regularly; up to 4 weeks of treatment may be needed

Nasolacrimal occlusion or gently closing the eyelid after administration is recommended

If required, lodoxamide eye drops may be used concomitantly with corticosteroids

Instillation of eye drops may initially cause discomfort or transient burning or stinging. Should these symptoms persist, the patient should be advised to contact the prescribing physician

Patients must be instructed to remove contact lenses prior to application of lodoxamide eye drops and wait at least 15 mins before reinsertion

If more than one topical ophthalmic medicinal product is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart. Eye ointments should be administered last

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: opd

Non-infectious allergic conjunctivitis
- Vernal conjunctivitis
- Giant papillary conjunctivitis
- Allergic-atopic conjunctivitis
Other ocular diseases 
- Where type I immediate hypersensitivity (or mast cells) play a major role in the inflammatory process

Younger than 4 years

• Not established for use

Older than 4 years

• See adult dosage

Therapy is essentially prophylactic therefore drops should be used regularly; up to 4 weeks of treatment may be needed

Nasolacrimal occlusion or gently closing the eyelid after administration is recommended

If required, lodoxamide eye drops may be used concomitantly with corticosteroids

Instillation of eye drops may initially cause discomfort or transient burning or stinging. Should these symptoms persist, the patient should be advised to contact the prescribing physician

Patients must be instructed to remove contact lenses prior to application of lodoxamide eye drops and wait at least 15 mins before reinsertion

If more than one topical ophthalmic medicinal product is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart. Eye ointments should be administered last

Pregnancy

• Caution; not recommended
• There are no or limited amount of data from the use of lodoxamide in pregnant women. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity
• As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of lodoxamide during pregnancy

Breastfeeding

• Caution
• It is not known whether lodoxamide is excreted in human milk. There is insufficient information on the excretion of lodoxamide in animal milk
• A risk to the suckling child cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue/abstain from lodoxamide therapy taking into account the benefit of breastfeeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman

Renal Impairment

• No dose adjustment recommended

Hepatic Impairment

• No dose adjustment recommended

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Not yet classified (NC)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Central Nervous System Disorders

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Somnolence

Cardiovascular Disorders

• Palpitations

Respiratory Disorders

• Nasal dryness
• Sneezing

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Nausea
• Abdominal discomfort

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Eyelid exfoliation
• Rash

Sensory Disorders

• Ocular discomfort
• Blurred vision
• Dry eye
• Eye pruritis
• Increased lacrimation
• Ocular hyperaemia
• Eye pain
• Eye oedema
• Asthenopia
• Corneal deposits
• Conjunctival oedema
• Abnormal eye sensations
• Eye discharge
• Eye irritation
• Corneal erosion
• Corneal scar
• Corneal abrasion
• Anterior chamber cell
• Corneal epithelium defect
• Keratitis
• Blepharitis
• Eye allergy
• Visual impairment
• Eyelid oedema
• Conjunctival disorder
• Dysgeusia

Others

• Feeling hot

No information available

None routine. Specific cases may require

• Ophthalmic examination

Lodoxamide, a mast cell stabilizer inhibits the in vivo Type I immediate hypersensitivity reaction in animals and man. In vitro studies have demonstrated the ability of lodoxamide to stabilize mast cells and prevent the antigen-specific induced release of histamine. In addition, lodoxamide prevents the release of other mast cell inflammatory mediators (i.e. SRS-A, slow-reacting substances of anaphylaxis also known as the peptido-leukotrienes). Lodoxamide inhibits histamine release in vitro by preventing the movement of calcium into the mast cell after stimulation.

Eye drop (per ml) 1mg

• Alomide (Alcon) originator